For a player who seemingly couldn’t wait to get out of Toronto six years ago, Kawhi Leonard certainly has been keeping up appearances in the 6ix this summer.
Leonard, who won the NBA Finals MVP while leading the Raptors to the team’s lone championship in 2019, was spotted at the National Bank Open tennis tournament on Tuesday night as the pending trade that will see him return to Toronto remains on hold.
The seven-time NBA all-star was seen in attendance at the WTA tournament taking place at Sobeys Stadium, taking in the quarterfinal match between Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka.
He also shared a clip on his Instagram account of himself meeting Coco Gauff — who advanced to the semifinals after Belinda Bencic withdrew due to injury — and being gifted a couple of signed tennis balls for Leonard’s daughter.
During the match, Leonard was seated in the front row alongside girlfriend Kishele Shipley and Toronto-based realtor Sam McDadi.
What are fans concerned?
However, some fans had questions about Leonard after Sportsnet captured the two-time NBA champ approaching the venue on foot.
Many were quick to comment with concerns about his health, especially given that for a player that has a history of knee injuries and is 35 years old, he was moving rather gingerly.
“What’s the deal with that walk?” one user commented on X.
“Kawhi walks like he’s injured,” another wrote.
Others joked that perhaps the forward simply might’ve needed to use the restroom.
What’s going on with the Raptors-Clippers trade?
The appearance at Tuesday’s match is Leonard’s first in Toronto since the trade between the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers was put on hold pending the results of an NBA investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention involving the forward’s most recent contract extension.
The league has been looking into ties between Leonard, the Clippers and Aspiration, a now-defunct green tech and financial services company allegedly used to pay Kawhi a no-show sponsorship deal.
Leonard did make a brief appearance in July as Kyle Lowry — the Greatest Raptors of All Time — signed a one-day contract and announced his retirement from the NBA as a member of the team.
The Raptors have said that they remain eager to acquire Leonard after the investigation — which was launched more than a year ago — concludes.
“Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors said in a press release last month. “In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”
Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks and two second-round picks would go back to the Clippers for Leonard if/when the trade is completed.